Animal-shears.



No. 636,146. Patented Oct. 3|, .1899.

W HUME j ANIMAL SHEARS.

(Appl fildOtfi 1898) (No Model.)

PATENT Fries.

WASHINGTON HUME, LONDON, ENGLAND.

ANlMAL-SHEARS.

SPECIFICATION Application filed October 5, 1898.

T0 all ZUhOWZ/ it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WASHINGTON HUME, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at New Broad street, London, in the countyof Middlesex, England, have invented Improvements in Animal-Shears, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a simple construction ofshearing-machine suitable for shearing sheep and which comprises aframe, a toothed cutter fixed to the frame, another toothed cutter fixedto a pivoted arm, means for imparting radial movement to such arm in adirect manner, so as to cause its cutter-teeth to reciprocate oppositethose of the fixed cutter, and an adjustable spring device for pressingthe reciprocating cutter against the fixed cutter more or less forciblyaccording to requirement, as hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure l is acentral longitudinal section of a sheep-shearing machine according tothis invention. Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectionhereinafter referred to. Fig. 4: is a sectional detail View showing amodification.

A is a blade curved to a suitable radius and fixed, as hereinafterdescribed, to the frame or holder S. At the outer end of the blade Athere are teeth A, forming the fixed cutter, which is the lower cutter.

O is the radially-movable or upper cutter. The teeth 0' at its outeredge are in the example twice as far apart at their outer ends as arethe teeth A of the lower blade. The upper cutter is fastened by bolts Dto an arm B, which is pivoted on a stud-bolt E, that is riveted at itslower end to the fixed blade A. The upper cutter and radial arm are bothcurved to suitable radii.

By curving the fixed and movable blades and radial operating-arm to asuitable radius, as shown, the shears, while available for'cutting woolfrom convex portions of a sheeps body, can be advantageously used forcutting woolfrom concave portions of the sheep, such as from its neckand behind its ears, without danger of cutting the animal, as is thecase with fiat cutting-blades, and such curved blades also enable thewool to be cut closer and faster at the concave parts mentioned than ispossible with flat cutting-blades. The

forming part of Letters IEjatent No. 636,146, dated October 31, 1899.

Serial No. 692,724- (No model.)

I use of a curved fixed blade also admits of its forming part of theframe and so increases the strength and lightness of the machine.

In the arm B there is an oblong slot whose sides are furnished withslide-guides K, soldered or otherwise fastened to the blade, so as toform guiding-faces for the sliding block hereinafter mentioned.

H is a cam of sufficient throw to give the requisite radial motion forreciprocating the upper cutter G. The cam H is fast on a spindle V andfits with an easy-working fita cylindrical hole in a sliding block L,which is adapted to reciprocate between the slideguides K.

M is a bush of suitable material, such as steel, fastened into the frameS (which may be of brass) to take the wear of the spindle V.

O is a flexible wire or other driving-shaft brazed or otherwise fastenedto a screwed coupling N, wherebyit can be fastened iothe spindle V.

F, F, and G are three studs riveted into the bottom blade A and passingthrough the frame S, to which they are secured by millheaded nuts.

P is a flat steel spring having one end in serted into a recess in theframe S and its other end engaged with a friction-block Q, which is inthe example formedwitli three holes into which are inserted three clawsformed on the corresponding end of the spring. This spring is for thepurpose of pressing the movable cutter C against the fixed cutter A, thepressure being regulated by the stud and milled nut R.

Tis a handle (which maybe of wood) sunk at each end in to socketsin theframes S and U.

X is one of two bolts extending through the back end of the fixed bladeA and through the handle T and screwing into the frame S; but theremight be only one bolt, and in other respects the details illustratedmay be varied. When using one bolt, it may screw into a snug or socketformed in the frame S, Fig. 4.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The flexible driving-shaftO, which is attached by a screwcoupling N to the spindle V, is rotatedby any suitable motor. The cam H, which is fixed to the spindle V androtates freely in the sliding block L, is thereby caused to rotate andcause the said sliding block to reciprocate between the slide-guides Kand at the same time cause the upper cutter 0 to oscillate over thelower cutter A \Vhat I claim is 1. A shearing-machine comprising a fixedcutter provided with teeth, a radially-movable cutter provided withteeth, an arm carrying said cutter and mountedto oscillate about a pivoton the fixed cutter in rear of the oscillating means, means foroscillating the said movable cutter, and means for pressing said cutterstogether, said fixed and movable cutters and operating-arm being curvedto a suitable radius, substantially as hereinbefore described for thepurpose specified.

2. A shearing-machine comprising a frame or holder, a lower cutter fixedthereto, a radially-movable arm pivoted at its rear end to said fixedcutter and formed with a longitudinally-arranged slot extendingtherethrough between its rear and front ends,a movable cutter carried bythe forward end of said radially-movable arm and arranged to oscillateover the fixed cutter, a rotary cam extending through the slot in saidmovable arm and adapted to oscillate said arm and the cutter attachedthereto, said cam having its axis at right angles to said movable arm,means for rotating said cam, and an adjustable spring withfriction-block adapted to press the movable cutter against the fixedone, substantially as described:

3. A shearing-machine comprising a frame and fixed cutter-blade havingteeth at its front end, an arm pivoted at its rear end to said fixedcutter-blade, a movable cutter fixed to the front end of said arm andarranged to oscillate over said fixed cutter, a sliding block arrangedto reciprocate in a slot in said arm, a rotary cam fitted in said block,means for rotating said cam, and means for keeping said cutter-blades inclose contact with each other, substantially as described.

4. The improved shearing-machine comprising the frame S, the curvedblade A fixed thereto and provided at its front end with teeth A, thehandle T connecting the upwardly-bent rear end of said blade to saidframe, the radially-movable cutter C with teeth 0 and curvedcarrying-arm B fixed to the movable cutter, formed with a longitudinalguideway, and pivoted at its rear end to said fixed blade, therectangular slide-block L mounted to Work in said guideway, the cam Hfitted in said block and secured to a spindle extending through saidframe and adapted to be rotated by a flexible shaft, and the adjustablespring-plate P with frictionblock Q for pressing said fixed and movableblades together, all substantially as described and shown.

Signed at the city of London, England, this 16th day of September, 1898.

W'ASHINGTON HUME.

